MILWAUKEE — Two more Milwaukee schools will close due to hazardous levels of lead.

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) sent letters to parents of Brown Street Academy and Westside Academy students Monday informing them that students would be temporarily relocated to other MPS school buildings.

Both schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year, according to the MPS letters.

Brown Street Academy students will relocate to Andrew S. Douglas Middle School starting Monday, May 12. Westside Academy will also relocate to Andrew S. Douglas Middle School, starting Monday, May 5. Students from both schools will study there for the rest of the 2024-25 school year.

MPS said there is “no immediate danger” at either school; however, a “significant portion of [each] building requires lead cleanup.”

MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius emphasized that no students at either school have tested positive for elevated lead levels.

“We know moving schools is disruptive, but there is significant work that needs to be done,” she said. “It will take time, and it will take people power.”

According to the new MPS Lead Action Plan, the summer will be dedicated to checking schools for lead dangers. MPS said it will bring in 130 workers to inspect schools and complete any lead remediation needed in the 54 MPS schools built before 1950. MPS said its goal is to have that completed by September.

Then, MPS said it will inspect and work on any needed lead remediation in its 52 schools built between 1950 to 1978. In 1978, lead paint was banned. That work, MPS said, is expected to be done by the end of December. 

"We assume all of those schools have lead in them, but that does not necessarily mean there is a danger. Lead is in lots of places, including some of our homes," Cassellius said. 

Starms Early Childhood Center and LaFollette School remain closed for lead-hazard cleanup. Fernwood Montessori had been closed for lead cleanup, but the building has since passed a health inspections and students returned to their classrooms last week.

The Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) said progress is being made at both Starms Early Childhood Center and LaFollette School.

Read the letters to parents below: